[Edit]
Mauritius is mostly of volcanic formation and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs. A coastal plain, widest in the north, rises sharply to a 1,500 ft high plateau bordered by three mountain ranges - the Black River Range, the Grand Port Range, and the Moka Range. The longest river is the Grand River South East, about 25 miles in length.
God created Mauritius and then Heaven, at least according to Mark Twain and if you are looking for what brochures call a tropical paradise, Mauritius is there for you.
Mauritius consists of two islands. By far the biggest one is known as Mauritius - the capital city Port Louis is located here. Then there is a smaller island some 500 km away, called Rodrigues.
Mauritius was known to the early Arabs traders as it can be found marked on their maps, but the first visitors from Europe were the Portuguese who landed in 1510. They used the island as a victualling stop on the way to Goa and Malacca but did not settle. The first attempt at colonisation was made by the Dutch who arrived in 1598 and named the island Mauritius after Prince Maurice of Nassau. They introduced sugar, Malagasy slaves and a herd of Javanese deer. But they were also heedlessly destructive and are said to be responsible for the disappearance of the magnificent ebony forests and the extinction of the famous dodo. They eventually abandoned their settlements in 1710.
The French occupied the island which they renamed Isle de France between 1715 and 1810 and many place names are reminders of this period. In 1810 with the British take-over, the name reverted to Mauritius. The abolition of slavery lead to the importation of Chinese and Indian indentured labourers, who were followed by traders of their own nationalities. Mauritius gained independence from Britain on 12 March 1968 and since then has been an independent sovereign nation within the British Commonwealth. In remained as a realm of Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a Governor General until 12 March 1992, when Mauritius became a Republic with a President as head of state.
Capital and main port of Mauritius, Port Louis was founded by the French governor, Mahe de Labourdonnais, in 1735. The harbour lies sheltered in a semi-circle of mountains. The town has plenty of character, and shows in certain quarters of its past elegance. Off the main square, palm-lined Place d'Armes, there are some particularly fine French colonial buildings, especially the Government House (eighteenth century) and the Municipal Theatre, built around the same time. There are two Cathedrals, Anglican and Catholic, a Mosque, a chinese Casino, a fine Supreme Court, some 18th century Barracks, a Natural History Museum.
To see a fascinating cross-section of Mauritian life, visit the lively covered market. Champs de Mars, originally laid out by the French for military parades is now a racecourse. The best high-up views of the racecourse, town and harbour,are from a splendid boulevard called Edward VII Avenue and from Fort Adelaide, a citadel fortified in the time of William IV. South of Port Louis is Le Reduit, French colonial residence of the former Governor-General of Mauritius, set in magnificient gardens. From Port Louis you can drive through the residential townships of Beau Bassin, Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes and Vacoas.
Culture
Over half the population of Mauritius is Hindu and roughly another fifth is Muslim; both groups descend from labourers brought to the island by the British to work the cane fields. While some of the resident Chinese and Sino-Mauritians were also brought over as labourers, most came to Mauritius as entrepreneurs, and many still control the lion's share of village-based commerce. The remaining population is composed mainly of Creoles, descendants of African slaves, and Franco-Mauritians, the original settlers of the island. Franco-Mauritians, who make up about 2% of the population, still control many of the sugar plantations, although many emigrated to South Africa and France following independence.
English is the official language of the island, though you're bound to hear French, Creole (or MC, a melange of French, English, Indian, Malagasy and Chinese words) and a smattering of Indian languages. The island's main contribution to the performing arts is the Creole sega, a foot-shuffling, body-gyrating, downright erotic dance that's generally performed on the beach to the rhythm of Latin American, Caribbean and African pop. Sega variations to Creole music are popular in the island's discos and are certainly more entertaining than the well-choreographed 'cultural shows' you'll see in hotel lounges.
One highlight of a visit to Mauritius is the magnificent mixture of cuisines on offer. The most common varieties are Creole, European, Chinese and Indian, with seafood almost always the specialty. In addition, a typical Mauritian buffet might include a Muslim biryani, Indian chicken curry, Chinese pork dish, Creole roast beef and French-style vegetables. Boiled rice is served with just about everything. Common dishes include rougaille, a Creole dish of tomatoes, onions, garlic and any kind of meat or fish, and daube, an octopus stew. Favorite local beverages includes lassi, a refreshing yogurt and ice-water drink, and alouda, a syrupy brew of agar, milk and flavourings that's available everywhere from streetside vendors. Locally produced beer and rum are potent, plentiful and cheap; wines are expensive and usually imported from France or South Africa.
Last edited by Gary (6:40, 06 January 2006)
Add Your Tip